Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?
-Marc and Angel
Wednesday 9 December 2015
Tuesday 8 December 2015
Book Review: 99 Thoughts on GANESHA
Upon reading the title, one may assume initially that it is perhaps a compilation of hymns or folklore on Ganesha. Well, not truly. Its far more than that.
The author- Devdutt Patnaik is a mythologist. He has written several other books on Hindu mythology focusing on the rational part of it, with a consolidation of all the relevant information.
Ganesha is who is one of the most celebrated and beloved gods pan India. About him, not much is known to people, except for stories revolving around how he came into existence, and that he is worshiped before doing anything afresh.
In this book, Devdutt Patnaik has penned down an account comprising Ganesha's creation, the rituals associated with him, the literature, symbols, festivals, history, stories, etc.- most of which was not unveiled in so simple manner yet (best to my knowledge). It contains a brief of each of them, leaving the rest to the reader's zeal of exploration.
Even after including such vast fountain on information, this book is a precise, concise and quick read. In general, the chapters not inter-related, can be read from anywhere. Every chapter has wonderful illustrations to provide a better insight into the respective section. Regarding the text- it contains simple vocabulary, meticulously articulated, suited to the contemporary generation who escape from reading huge epics or upanishads.
The best part is that it doesn't aim at cultivating superstition, but seems to based on the available documentation and author's interpretation.
My only apprehension is that, unlike fiction based novels, the reader might not be able to retain and recall all this by reading only once. I rate it 4 on 5 stars. For those who are looking for enlightenment on mythology and are curious about Ganesha, must read this book.
(PS: the reviews expressed here are based on my personal reading experience, and do not intend to defame, derate or degrade the sale or vice-versa for the book. I am not paid for writing the reviews.)
If you are an author and want your book to be reviewed, drop an email at bookreviews@mansiladha.com.
Saturday 5 December 2015
Book Review: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
This is one good novel by Robin Sharma- the motivational speaker, first published in 1997. This is his first book, after which he has penned down various others in the same genre. He is also a keynote speaker at various seminars.
They say- "Motivation doesn't last daily. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily." This book is a dosage of motivation to fulfill your dreams and reaching your destiny.
I am sure I am too late in reading this book- one, because this was published when I was a kid; two, because I read other motivational fables prior to this. Owing to both the reasons, much of the wisdom covered here already occurred to me with other texts. Nevertheless, human brain requires frequent revision!
It comes along with preaching, principles and paradigms to be what you are destined to be; to attain your goals; awaken your soul; stay healthy, wealthy and content. I am proud that some of the paradigms are engraved in my mind now. My rating is 3.5!
A few minus points: I believe is that it isn't able to capture consistent attention, especially of a mischievous mind like mine. It doesn't captivate my senses, and I had to compel myself to keep reading. Reasons may be that the story wasn't woven as a definite fiction, but most of it was a conversation. The lessons kept pouring in as answers to Frequently Asked Questions, along with the typically designed terminologies and very little examples. I guess I kept comparing the content with that of others like How to Stop Worrying And Start Living, What Got You Here Won't Get You There, Eat That Frog, The Secret, which are also aimed towards self-improvement.
Nevertheless, the Odyssey is a good read for those who are looking for a life of purpose.
(PS: the reviews expressed here are based on my personal reading experience, and do not intend to defame, derate or degrade the sale or vice-versa for the book. I am not paid for writing the reviews.)
If you are an author and want your book to be reviewed, drop an email at bookreviews@mansiladha.com.
Thursday 3 December 2015
Monday 30 November 2015
चूड़ियाँ
मैंने लोगो को कहते सुना है, हाथों में चूड़ियाँ पहन लो | इसका अर्थ है कि आपमें साहस कि कमी है और चूडि़यां पहनने वाले हाथ कमजोर है | किन्तु मैं इससे सहमत नहीं | एक भिन्न दृष्टिकोण से चूड़ियों पर उल्लेख-
बजती
हैं माँ कि चूड़ियाँ,
रसोई
में मेरे लिए स्वादिष्ट भोजन पकाने के लिए,
मंदिर
की घंटी बजा कर मेरे लिए दुआ का हाथ उठाने के लिए |
बजती
है माँ कि चूड़ियाँ,
मुझे
थपकी दे कर सुलाने के लिए,
मुझ
पर आशीष बरसाने के लिए |
बजती
रहे ममता भरी ये चूड़ियाँ ||
बजती
है बहन कि चूड़ियाँ,
मुझे
सता कर अपने पीछे दौड़ाने के लिए,
मुझ
से मीठी नोक-झोंक में कमर पर हाथ रख धौंस जमाने के लिए |
बजती
है बहन कि चूड़ियाँ,
मेरे
माथे पर चंदन का टीका लगाने के लिए,
मेरे
हाथों में राखी सजाने के लिए |
बजती
रहे शरारत भरी ये चूड़ियाँ ||
बजती
है पत्नी कि चूड़ियाँ,
प्रतीक्षारत
हाथो से दरवाज़ा खोलने के लिए,
मुझे
आलिंगनबद्ध कर मनुहार जताने के लिए |
बजती
है पत्नी कि चूड़ियाँ,
मेरी
पसंद के पकवान बनाने के लिए,
मेरे
घर आँगन को सँवारने के लिए |
बजती
रहे प्रेम भरी ये चूड़ियाँ ||
बजती
है बेटी कि चूड़ियाँ,
मेरे
घर को अपनी किलकारियों से सजाने के लिए,
नन्हे
हाथों से गुड्डे गुड़ियों संग खेलने के लिए |
बजती
है बेटी कि चूड़ियाँ,
ससुराल
जाते हुए छुप कर आँसू पोंछेने के लिए,
दौड़ते
हुए मेरे सीने से लग जाने के लिए |
बजती
रहे मासूमियत भरी ये चूड़ियाँ ||
Saturday 28 November 2015
Book Review: The God of Small Things
Puzzled to see another book review so soon!? Well, a book review always doesn't mean that I have FINISHED the book and that too so quickly. It may even mean that I have given up further reading, but as a ritual I am penning down my views.
I found out this Bestseller and 1997's "Booker Prize" winner book at the start of this month on Goodreads here. With a whooping 7343 reviews and 151237 ratings, this occurred to me as something I can invest upon. I ordered it then, and after eagerly waiting for long (including Diwali vacations), I received it a few days back.
I don't know much about the author- Arundhati Roy, but upon reading some of this book I presume she is a great scholar in English literature. If these many people have read and reviewed the book on the planet, there is no second thought for it to be called a masterpiece.
But for me, I could not bear with the flooding number of characters and holding the dictionary in the other hand to decrypt the powerful vocabulary. The South Christian from around 1960s, was what I could not relate to at all. It gave me gloomy feeling. The story hopped from one character's back story to the other. I tried hard to interpret the vocabulary contextually and to understand the characters' perspectives. Amusingly (and to my embarrassment), as soon as I switched to the consecutive paragraph, the previous one was wiped of from my memory. My patience couldn't survive for more than 52 pages, and I gave up. Not only me, I later heard from some other friends that they are also sailing in the same boat as me! May be one day my intellect would grow up and I would again open up this book to finish upto the last page.
Till then, all I can say is, there is a difference between what is the best and what is suited for you.
(PS: the reviews expressed here are based on my personal reading experience, and do not intend to defame, derate or degrade the sale or vice-versa for the book. I am not paid for writing the reviews.)
If you are an author and want your book to be reviewed, drop an email at bookreviews@mansiladha.com.
I found out this Bestseller and 1997's "Booker Prize" winner book at the start of this month on Goodreads here. With a whooping 7343 reviews and 151237 ratings, this occurred to me as something I can invest upon. I ordered it then, and after eagerly waiting for long (including Diwali vacations), I received it a few days back.
I don't know much about the author- Arundhati Roy, but upon reading some of this book I presume she is a great scholar in English literature. If these many people have read and reviewed the book on the planet, there is no second thought for it to be called a masterpiece.
But for me, I could not bear with the flooding number of characters and holding the dictionary in the other hand to decrypt the powerful vocabulary. The South Christian from around 1960s, was what I could not relate to at all. It gave me gloomy feeling. The story hopped from one character's back story to the other. I tried hard to interpret the vocabulary contextually and to understand the characters' perspectives. Amusingly (and to my embarrassment), as soon as I switched to the consecutive paragraph, the previous one was wiped of from my memory. My patience couldn't survive for more than 52 pages, and I gave up. Not only me, I later heard from some other friends that they are also sailing in the same boat as me! May be one day my intellect would grow up and I would again open up this book to finish upto the last page.
Till then, all I can say is, there is a difference between what is the best and what is suited for you.
(PS: the reviews expressed here are based on my personal reading experience, and do not intend to defame, derate or degrade the sale or vice-versa for the book. I am not paid for writing the reviews.)
If you are an author and want your book to be reviewed, drop an email at bookreviews@mansiladha.com.